End-gate.



F. D. HOWE.

END GATE.

APPLICATION mm 1AN.9| 1913.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. D. HOWE.

END GATE.

APPLlCATION Hun JAN.9, 1913.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOIJRAPH COUWASHINOTON D c.

FRANK n; HOWE, joii AKRON,

NATIONAL HARVESTER OHIO, ASSIGi-NQR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INTER- GORPORATION, CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

END-GATE.

To all whom it may concern .1 r

Beitknown thatl, FRANK D. How, a

citizen. of theiUnited States, residing at andimprove means for'adjustably supporting and locking end-gates of vehicles. This object is accomplished by prov ding at either side of the vehicle or wagon box adjacent. the end-gate, ladder members, the rungs of which are adapted to be engaged by hooks on the end-gate chains or connectors for holding the end-gate any adjusted position, and members associated wlth said end-gate chains or connectors for lock ing said end-gate in its closed position.

The invention is illustrated on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a wagon box equipped with my invention; and, Fig. 2 is the side elevation of the same.

The various novel features will be apparent from the description and drawings and will be particularly set forth in the appended claims.

The vehicle or wagon may have any kind of a box 1, provided with an end-gate 2, pivotallymounted at 3, the end-gate being held in closed position by the usual springs 41: which are secured to the box 1. Various means have been used whereby end-gates are held in different adjusted positions. However, means thus far employed have not fully and satisfactorily met all ofthe requirements for successful commercial usage. In the arrangement which is here illustrated, ladder members 5 are secured to the back cross member 6 of the wagon box 1, and also securedto the sides of the wagon box 1 adjacent the end-gate. These members 5 are called ladder members because they resemble ladders in that they have rungs 7 at intervals which are adapted-to be engaged by hooks 8 at the ends ofchains or'connectors 9, the other end of each of which is secured to the end-gate by an eye and bolt connection 10. If it is desired to have the end-gate Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1'7, 1915.

Application filed January 9, 1913. Serial No. 740,986.

lie in the same plane with the floor of the wagon box, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the hooks 8 are placed in engagement with the top rungs of the ladder members respectively. If it is desired to slightly raise the end-gate, said hooks are placed into engagement with the rungs just below the top rungs, with the chains passing over the latter. Any number of rungs may be used so that the end-gate may be raised and loweredand fastened in any adjusted position. When the endgate is raised from the horizontal position, the chains or connectors 9, pass over the top rungs and the hooks brought down on the opposite side of the ladder members, engaging any one of the rungs desired. If it is desired to lower the end-gate from its horizontal position, the hooks 8 are placed into engagement with any of the rungs without passing the chains or connectors over the top rungs. lVhen the end-gate is-in closed position, the chains or connectors pass over the top rungs and the hooks are placed into engagement with a stud or projection 11 secured in the end of a pivotally mounted member 12. By means of this pivotally mounted member 12, the end-gate is positively locked in closed position. The end-gate is positively locked depending upon whether or not the chain or, connector 9 falls on one side or the other of the pivotal or critical point 13 of the member 12.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the chain 9 with the end-gate closed is to the left of the pivotal point 13 and the end-gate is locked in closed position. In order to unlock the endgate, the member 12 is swung counter-clockwise until the chain 9 is shifted to the opposite side of the pivotal point 13, whereupon the hooks 8 can be removed from the studs 11 and the gate lowered any desired degree as hereinbefore set forth. The pivotally mounted member 12 is adapted to en gage a stop member 1 1 to prevent said member, 12, from moving too far in a clockwise direction. It is to be noted that each of the studs or handles 11 of the member 12, has an off-set or eccentric portion 11* on which a fastening nut 11 is screwed. By loosening the nut 11 on either handle 11, said handle may be rotated, as a crank, with the middle of the off-set portion 11 as a center. This provision is made so that even if the lengths of two chains 9 differ, the handles 11 can be properly rotated or adjusted so that the tautness of the tWo chains Will be the same When the end-gate is locked in closed position by the member 12. Formed integrally With the ladder members 5, are socket portions 15, into which projections 16 of the side ing members 17 areadapted to fit to hold said side Wings in place. Set screws 18 are used for securing the projections16 in any desired position.

'The particular ladder member arrangement With its cooperating parts herein disclosed is considered to be the preferred form of my invention. There may -be various modifications of the particular arrangement herein illustrated and described, and it is my intention to cover all such arrangements and modifications Whichdo not depart from' the spirit and scope of my invention as set .forth in-the appended claims.

What I claim as'new is: Y

1. In a vehicle, the combination of a vebers, said connector being adapted to engage various portions of said ladder mem-' bers to retain said gate in different positions, and a pivotally'mounted member for positively locking said end-gate in one extreme position.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 3. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a' pivotally mounted endgate, ladder'memhers secured to said body, flexible members secured to said end-gate and having hooks at their ends to engage various portions of said ladder members to support said endgatein different positions, and a pivotally mounted member on opposite sides of said body-to positively lock said end-gate in one position. V 7

L. In a vehicle, the combination of avehicle body, "a gate therefor, a ladder member having rungs and being securedto said body, and a connector secured to said end gate andhavmg a hook adapted to engage any of-the rungs of sa'idladder member to retain said gate-in difierent' positions, said. connector passing over the top. rung and-engaging-a different rungivvh'en the end-gate is raised, from a horizontal position.

5: In a vehicle, the combination of an end-gate, a locking member therefor, a flexible connection between said end-gate and locking member, said locking member havingrelative eccentric portions by means of \vh1ch the tautness of said 'flGXlblQ'COlHlQCfi tion may be varied.

6. In a vehi le, the combination .of an end-gate, a locking 'member therefor in cludinga leverand handle, and 'aconnec tion between -said end-gate and locking. member, said handle being' adapted to be adjusted relative to 'said'lever to vary the tautness-of said connection. In testimony whereof I aflix my gig ture, in the presence of tWO "Witnesses.

' I .FR NKD; HOWE.

Witnesses: 7

DAVID M. KLooKER, W; L. CARLTON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent!- Washington, D. G. Y 

